We’ve set up an account for KitAid with Easyshopping and we now need to try and promote it to our supporters to encourage them to register.  It is really easy (hence the name!) and could be beneficial for us, as if you choose KitAid as your preferred charity we will recive a payment for every online purchase made with some really big organisations, i.e. Amazon, Argos, Tesco and hundreds more well known names.

If you do shop online please register and please encourage your friends to do the same.  It has been a very slow start, despite some publicity across Affinity Water, our web and twitter sites.

We always ask for feedback from the charities we partner with and in most cases we receive it. Sometimes we receive an email or letter which really stands out and makes you realise the power of what we do. The following did exatly that and the fact that our shirts have probably allowed 2 boys to attend a school which they could not previously afford to do, is quite humbling. Please see the following note received by Ben (van Nes) from one of his projects.

"We greatly appreciate your contribution to facilitate our programme of empowering youth through sports in Kenya. The provission of football kit from KITAID has made our dream come true.This could not have been possible without the KITAID team that has worked tirelessly to make a difference in people`s lives. The impact of football has been felt across the whole county of Bumula in Kenya. Youth are nolonger idling around shopping centres and being involved in antisocial behaviour.

Within the last 2 years 32 youth teams have been issued with football kits in Bumula county. 2 students who had been dropped out of school for lack of fees have been admitted in two sports oriented schools with free education bursaries. Their talent was sported by school sports representatives who attended one of our annual football events. These events are used to gather communities and mostly targetting youth to alleviate idleness and antisocial behaviour by engaging and empowering them on issues of health,unemployment, identity and self worth. This is done by organising interactive workshops and video clips.

5 primary schools received football uniform and it was very exciting when whole school Activities were paralysed,all class lessons cancelled and parade assembled just to receive the uniform. They had never had any uniform since the foundation of their schools which dates back as far as 1965.(Since Independence) They always played with one team removing their shirts (topless ) during their inter- school competitions, now they cant wait for the season to beggin. All this was made possible by contribution of Kits from KITAID. This years event which takes place in August will even be bigger and better, involving nearly 20 teams across the county and other 10 different sports activities"

Thanks to Helen for contacting Ellen White and for getting her interested in KitAid.

As a result she donated a mountain of her own England and Arsenal training kit and has expressed an interest in coming along to a boxing up session soon.

We held an official presentation at a St Albans City match in early Jan, when Ellens’s kit, some from Birmingham City Ladies, as well as St Albans, was handed over on a freezing half time pitch presentation.

Helen took some of the kit with her out to the Gambia and I have given some to Clare Muir for her trip to Kenya this month, so we should soon be able to show Ellen where her kit has ended up.

I have been trying to get Arsenal Ladies involved for a while now, as they are based at the local University of Herts and I think it is good for KitAid to help promote football for girls in Africa.

In 2012 we sorted, packed and donated 775 boxes of kit which amounts to an amazing 26,775 items.

Across the world we have kitted out the equivalent of 1,785 teams, which is amazing, but even better, we have brought 26,775 smiles and a feeling of hope/pleasure to this many people.

This convinces me it is really worthwhile and together we do make a difference.

A great draw as it brings 2 clubs who have supported KA together. I have sponsored the match ball in KA’s name and David Ingham (RC for Cumbria) is a mad Barrow supporter and will be travelling down. David doesn’t really get the chance to get to many of our events so it will be a nice way of meeting up to share KA news. May the best team win, as long as it is Chesham!!